randombirder

Another overdue visit with only one target in mind. Portsoy is a bit of a trek from North Herts but this journey was completed in a day with thanks to British Airways policy of carry-on items within the basic fare prices (£88 rtn). Taking advantage of loyalty points through Enterprise, the car-hire cost was a modest £22 for the day. The trip did require a 4.30am alarm call but with the scope set up by 11.20am, this was a steal of a trip. The Dolphin Statue overlooks the sea facing north from the lovely coastal village of Portsoy.  From the vantage point, small rafts of long-tailed duck in fine summer plumage were floating offshore with modest numbers of common eider , guillemot , kittiwake and Sandwich tern in the area. It was generally a fine day, a modest southerly breeze, that was more than bearable, kept the temperature at a comfortable level with the sun desperately trying to break through. Scanning the sea, two great northern diver flew past and single red-throated diver ...

Arriving onto the Isles can invariably be a challenge, particularly in October when the weather can cause havoc with the flight connections.  Flying is always my preference to the Scillonian despite the cost and the potential on missing out on a seabird or cetacean bonanza. The last couple of days have seen fog rolling onto the Isles and the furthest tip of the south-west mainland.  The drive down was smooth and without incident but the patches of fog en route indicated that trouble may be looming through the murk. And so it came to pass that on arrival, it was no surprise to find that all flights were grounded due to the fog that had set in for the past couple of days. A quick phone call and a quicker dash down to the Lighthouse Quay where a jet-boat (without a jet) was waiting to spin us across the swell to St Mary's.  A spectacular lone drake Eider glided past the Quay. The ride was choppy but exhilarating.  Seabirds were few in number apart fr...